A two week man old hunt for a suspected murderer believed to be hiding in a mountainous area south east of Lake Isabella in eastern Kern County is still underway. And it is causing the shutdown of a famous hiking trail, the Pacific Crest Trail.
34-year old Benjamin Ashley is accused of murdering a retired dentist on July 30 at a Weldon-area cabin.
He is also kidnapping three men two days earlier in the Twin-Oaks area.
The search area is near the Pacific Crest Trail, which was featured in the recent movie ‘Wild’.
The Kern County Sheriff’s Office say Ashley is a transient, homeless man with a lengthy criminal record across California.
That survival experience, the rugged terrain, and numerous hiding places such as empty homes and caves are slowing the search.
Ray Pruitt with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office says they got close, but Ashley set a trap and opened fire with a shot gun injuring two swat officers.
“Anyone that would engage law enforcement officers, specifically swat officers, in a gun fight? That would lie in wait for them and engage them in a gun fight? We would consider that person extremely dangerous,” Pruitt said.
Pruitt says they believe that he is still alive and in the mountainous area.
However, given his previous actions Pruitt says officers are proceeding carefully.
Ashley is suspected of breaking into unoccupied homes and cabins to acquire weapons and provision like water and food.
“He has obviously show that he is able to adapt and survive. And these are very rugged areas. Most people probably wouldn’t be able to survive. So he has obviously shown that he can adapt,” Pruitt said.
Police are warning residents to be diligent, lock their doors, and report anything suspicious at 661-392-4360.
The search area has caused the closure of parts of the famed Pacific Crest Trail.
